[AutumnEncounters]

If I'm not playing a game with the same bird.

First week of season, had this bird all but killed by my buddy who was sitting 150 yards to my left. Bird gobbled his brains out all the way to him and just when it was about to go down, he spooks (saw something he didn't like). Oh well, turkey 1 us 0. For the next two weeks, this "bird", has been in the area, will gobble but never commit or even remotely show interest in coming to the call.

Last Wednesday, I slipped into the area and low and behold, around 9am, he starts. I tried from where I was set up, nothing. So I put a move on him to a small food plot. he'd gobble, then keep on going. Turkeys 10 (at this point) us 0.

Saturday morning I went right back there and he was gobbling on the roost. I setup in the food plot area, thinking thats where he'd want to head. I never said a peep till I heard him fly down. I call.. he'd gobble, I'd call... he'd gobble. Great, so I gave him the best cutting and yelping sequence you ever heard, he double gobbled. I put the calls away and waited. He gobbled and gobbled.. getting further away.. lol. You know the drill.

I'm starting to think this is the same bird that we spooked the first week. Thinking maybe I need to change calls next time in. He really likes this high pitched box call (all of the birds I hunt seem to prefer it for some reason).

So do you think it sounds like the same bird?

 

[Takemrarely]

Not sure what makes you think it is the same bird.

The only common thread is that these birds don't come to your calling.....heck that's most of the birds I call to....

 

[AutumnEncounters]

Why? This bird is using the same roost area and doing the same things every time. Just seems logical that its probably the same bird. Which also shows you how much I must suck at this since if it is the same one and I have yet to close the deal with him being relatively routine. lol

 

[xarcher]

He certainly loves to gobble at the call, but seeing that he walks away suggests he might never come into that call or any call. He is doing what is in his blood, wanting the hens to come to him. Gobbling is one of the coolest sounds in the woods, but do you want to hear him gobble, or do you want to kill him? Figure out which way he likes to go in the morning and ambush that area. At most purr and scratch once every 15 or 20 minutes. I know that takes patience and a strong will to not yelp and cut, but he's walking away from that.

 

[rmh181]

I've battled some stubborn birds like that in years past. If his MO is to gobble and then walk away gobbling from the call, I would suggest you slip a buddy all the way around the backside of the roost/bird with strict plans for him to be 100% silent (no calling) while you do the calling. As he gobbles to you, hopefully it'll que your buddy in so he can slip into his path quietly and whack him. Good luck!

 

[sweg]

Some birds all but refuse to come to aggressive calling. They want the hen to come to them. By cutting, you're telling that bird how excited you are that he's there and he's just waiting for the hen to show up. He may have a strut zone, an area that he will walk, back and forth, gobbling and strutting, waiting for you (the hen)to come to him. Sometimes you can fool these birds by feigning disinterest. Don't call excitedly. A few subtle yelps to let him know you're there and then nothing but soft clucks and purrs. Scratch the leaves like a feeding turkey and give some more soft purrs. And, if you really want to get him going, give him a gobbler yelp or two. It's a call that's rarely used and a good chance he's never heard a hunter do it.(Gobblers probably yelp a little every day, but not a lot so don't over do it. only do 2-4 yelps one time and that's it for that calling session. If you're not sure how to do a gobbler yelp on your call, check it out on youtube. I'm sure there are some examples. Its a slow deep drawn out yelp). Gobbler yelps are going to tell him there's another gobbler with the hen. That can really bring them in in a hurry. Also, try using different calls. I think gobblers can pattern us hunters the same way we pattern them. switch it all up and see what happens. good luck!

 

[mauser06]

To me sounds like you're calling too much...might worked the first time...but he got spooked...


Many hunters IMO call entirely too much..to each his own...


Id bet A little patience and minimal calling will likely do the trick on that bird...and he's likely not gunna come for a good while after he quits gobbling..likely gunna sneak on quiet to check things out...


Is it as fun as calling a lot and having a bird gobble his head off?? No....but it usually results in a 3+yo bird and it's still an exciting hunt...and to me more satisfying....nothing like droppin the hammer onna bird that knows how to play the game..

 

[fall gobbler]

And it <span style="text-decoration: underline">may</span> have nothing to do with him not coming to a call. He may be just following his hens.
Sure is alot easier to "reverse nature" when the gobbler has no hens.

 

[AutumnEncounters]

Thanks for the input guys, really appreciate it. I would say that I'm fairly certain I don't call too much. I learned years and years ago (when I was actually killing turkeys, lol) that less is often more. I'll usually try to get him to answer a couple of times, then shut up and call sparingly every 20 to 30 minutes. I've been taught that usually when he acknowledges your call, he knows where you are and if he really wants to be there, calling a lot isn't needed.

I believe I'll get back in there this week to keep playing his game. I think everyone is right, different call and very minimal calling might be the medicine he needs.

 

[Born2Hunt]

Some birds all but refuse to come to aggressive calling. They want the hen to come to them. By cutting, you're telling that bird how excited you are that he's there and he's just waiting for the hen to show up. He may have a strut zone, an area that he will walk, back and forth, gobbling and strutting, waiting for you (the hen)to come to him. Sometimes you can fool these birds by feigning disinterest. Don't call excitedly. A few subtle yelps to let him know you're there and then nothing but soft clucks and purrs. Scratch the leaves like a feeding turkey and give some more soft purrs. And, if you really want to get him going, give him a gobbler yelp or two. It's a call that's rarely used and a good chance he's never heard a hunter do it.(Gobblers probably yelp a little every day, but not a lot so don't over do it. only do 2-4 yelps one time and that's it for that calling session. If you're not sure how to do a gobbler yelp on your call, check it out on youtube. I'm sure there are some examples. Its a slow deep drawn out yelp). Gobbler yelps are going to tell him there's another gobbler with the hen. That can really bring them in in a hurry. Also, try using different calls. I think gobblers can pattern us hunters the same way we pattern them. switch it all up and see what happens. good luck!

Sweg: You said several things there that have been showing to me by several very smart gobblers over many years..

 

[Kip Feroce]

I have the same thing with a tom at my place. I have a few tricks left for him though. Could have shot him in the yard several times. Called him to the porch several times this early spring may have him a bit coy now. Lol

He has not heard the last of me yet.